Track-switch



J. PAIGE.

TRACK SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-30.19I9.

'1,329,007'. l Patented Jan.27,19 20. F151 I III-ILM..M I

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"'I'HIIIIIIIIIII EEB I 4Wewof I@ d@ OU 236W@- JASON PAIGE, OF CHICAGO,`ILLINO`IS.

TRACK-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters lmatent. 'Patented Jan'. 27, 1920.

Application filed October 30, 1919. Serial No. v334,394.

To all 'whom t may concern: n Beit known that I, JASON PAIGE, a citizen `of the United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Switches, of whlch the following is a specification.

My invention relates to track switches and more specifically to an improved track switch having heatingmeans provided as an integrally associated part of the structure for preventing the accumulation of 1ce and-snow between and around the switch points incold weather. `An obiect of my invention is to provide such a switch having heating means which may be controlledl from a point remote from the lswitch and which 'means is-suflieiently rugged and well protected to successfully withstand the severe shocks incidert to the use of the switch.

. `Another object is to supply the desired i heat at the most efficient point possible.

` Inwinter weather a small amount of snow or' ice between the points of a track switch may entirely prevent the operation o f the switch at the proper time, either by filling 1n between the point and the rail or by freezing the movable arts solidly to the supporting structure. witches of this sort frequently have to be thawed out in winter time and this is customarily done by spilling oil over the switch Vand ignitingthe oil. rIhis method is very crude and inconvenient and if too much oil is used the rails may sometimes be locally heated enough to produce changes in the metallographic structure of the rail which may seriously weaken the rail,

resulting in a very dangerous condition of which there is no indication until some accident occurs. L

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad track switch indicating onel way' in which my invention may be applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged viewl of 'one of the slide-plates illustrated in Fig 1./ and Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the/electrical conductor and heating element where it enters the slideplate.

I have illustrated electrical heating means applied to the metallic slide-plates 9,'which support the switch points andthe rails adjacent the switch points, in the nature of heating elements 10 embedded directly in the slide-plates themselves. The resistance element 10a is surrounded by' a sleeve of in,

sulating material 11 which in turn is inclosed in a metallic sheath 12 preferably of some rather ductile alloy.

In manufacturing the slide-plate the heating element 10 is laid in -the mold, beingl cient to'break4 the plate itself is likely to damage the heating means employed.

i For purposes of illustration, I have shown 1n Fig. l an ordinary switch comprising a straight rail 13 and a bent rail 111 passing over and supported by suitable ties 15, the plates 9 being attached to the ties beneath the rails by suitable spikes or bolts 16. As illustrated, the heat-ing means is provided in each slide-plate which extends across the gap between the Vswitch 'oint and the rail when the switch is in eit er open or closed position. This provides a source of heat at the precise point where the presence of ice. or snow would interfere with the working of the switch.

It will be obvious that the area heated may be varied to suit various requirements and that in the design illustrated a 'fair supply of electrical energy will keep the entire switch, and as a rule the surface of the ties and the intervening spaces underlying the switch, entirely free froml ice and snow. Suitable lead wires 17 may conduct electrical energy to the heating elements from any desired source of power and the supply may obviously be controlled from any suitable or preferred control station. I have shown all the heating elements connected in multiple, but it will beobvious that a series connection or a series multiple connection may be used. 'Preferably a layer of asbestos 18 or the like is placed 'between each plate 9z and the tie underneath. This prevents excessive absorption of heat by the ties when they are of metal or cement, and protects them from burning when they are of wood.

Suitable drainage means for disposing of melted snow and ice should be provided in the construction of the ballast and sub-structure of the track in the proximity of the heating units. This might be mere trenches between the ties draining from the middle in both directions intofsuitable ditches on either side of the track but I prefer to provide tile drains embedded in the road bed for this purpose.

While I have illustrated and described in detail the embodiment of my invention at present preferred, it should be clearly understood that the description is only for l purposes of illustration and many variations slide-plates 011 said ties forming bearing surfaces for said rails and switch points, and electrical heating means integrally associated with said slide-plates over the area between each switch point and its coperating rail when said switch from said rail.

2. A special slide-plate for railroad track switches having electrical heating means integrally embedded therein.

3. A track switch having, in combination. rails, movable switch points, slide-plates un-r derlying and supporting said rails and switch points, ties supporting said slideplates, heat insulating means interposed between said slide-plates and said ties, and electric means integrally embedded in said slide-plates for supplying heat thereto.

4. A special slide-plate for railroad track switches comprising an electrical resistance element, a tube of insulating material surpoint is moved awaj7 rounding and protecting said resista-nce elea ment, a metal sheath surrounding and protecting said insulating tube, and a mass of cast metal in which said metal sheath is embedded and forming thel body of said c slide-plate. v

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JAsoN PAIGE. 

